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hiashleynine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Antisemitism and Religious bigotry
Minor: Rape
atthelibrarywithmegan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Tbh, this took me a month to finish. I think it was a combo of the fact that I had a massive book hangover and this is a pretty slow paced book. I do also feel like it would have been easier to read a physical copy rather than an ebook. That being said, I really loved it. This was my introduction to Naomi Novik and I really enjoyed her writing style; so much so I bought the physical book for Indie Book Day! This world is filled with so much detail, that I know I missed things. It’s told from 6 different POVs. Our main character is a Jewish young woman, Miryem, who works hard to bring her family out of poverty. She ends up making some unlikely alliances to help combat the evils around her. There’s found family and a little bit of enemies to lovers, but no spice. The imagery and details of the books, as well as NEEDING to know if Miryem, Wanda, and Irina succeed really helped pull me through this story. I cannot wait to read another one of her books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Antisemitism, Blood, and Child death
siobhan74's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You know, most people spend their time writing bad reviews. I only really enjoy writing good ones. Spinning Silver immediately joined my Top 5 Books Ever list. I have reread it a half dozen times. It’s all about knowing one’s own value, the value of women, the value of stepping into the unknown. Spinning Silver is all about how much people are worth. Right there, that tells you something.
It’s a sort of retelling of Rumplestilskin without a Rumplestilskin. Or at least without a character with a direct Rumplestilskin correlation. That story begins with a father bragging about his daughter that she can spin straw into gold. Our primary heroine — because there are three stories here — is a young Jewish girl in the time when Christians were not allowed to lend money with interest so all moneylenders in Europe were Jewish (this little fact is a monumentally important part of history. European Jews lent to kings and financed wars and palaces, and religion was only the excuse used to chase the Jews out of any given country). She brags that she can turn silver into gold.
The wiring is incredible, the characters ARE complicated, the plot moves quite quickly. Nothing but wonderment here.
It’s a sort of retelling of Rumplestilskin without a Rumplestilskin. Or at least without a character with a direct Rumplestilskin correlation. That story begins with a father bragging about his daughter that she can spin straw into gold. Our primary heroine — because there are three stories here — is a young Jewish girl in the time when Christians were not allowed to lend money with interest so all moneylenders in Europe were Jewish (this little fact is a monumentally important part of history. European Jews lent to kings and financed wars and palaces, and religion was only the excuse used to chase the Jews out of any given country). She brags that she can turn silver into gold.
The wiring is incredible, the characters ARE complicated, the plot moves quite quickly. Nothing but wonderment here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Antisemitism, Sexism, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcoholism
Minor: War and Rape
brassmonkey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The second half is just really fucking boring. Sorry. Cool concept.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Antisemitism, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Blood
Minor: Stalking, Miscarriage, War, and Animal cruelty
tak_everlasting's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'd read a whole book of just Irina and Melirnous, but unfortunately Novik didn't feel the same way about writing them, and robbed us by having their final scene be from the prespective of Margreta. No. I wanted either a Irina or Melirnous ending, not the side character. Yes, Margreta and Stefan are important perspectives, but the scenes from them could easily been reduced by 50% and given to characters with a more active role.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Antisemitism, and Animal death
chattie_the_mad_chatter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The plot, atmosphere and retelling of the fairy tale Rumplestiltskin was really well crafted. All the different parts of the story pulled together for the final.
I enjoyed how it drew from Mythology as well as different aspects of the fairy tale and the use of thrice repeated. The Winter atmosphere of both the mortal and Stark Kingdoms along with the harsh world's of both created a fantastic winter setting.
Themes of a pragmatic business sense and greed were mixed with compassion and weakness along with women at the bottom of life's ladder finding inner strength to take their place in the harsh unrelenting world.
It was nice to see Jewish representation with a fantasy and the family values were the spot of warmth that was well needed.
Despite this, I did not warm to the characters and I can’t pinpoint why. I liked them and followed their adventures, but i did not make friends with them and grow attached like I usually do with at least one characte. I'm not sure if this was a narrative voice choice where secondary characters gave first person perspective and I would have preferred 3rd person? That could be a factor. I am glad I read this, but it's not going to be a favourite re-read, which I think is down to my personal preference.
I enjoyed how it drew from Mythology as well as different aspects of the fairy tale and the use of thrice repeated. The Winter atmosphere of both the mortal and Stark Kingdoms along with the harsh world's of both created a fantastic winter setting.
Themes of a pragmatic business sense and greed were mixed with compassion and weakness along with women at the bottom of life's ladder finding inner strength to take their place in the harsh unrelenting world.
It was nice to see Jewish representation with a fantasy and the family values were the spot of warmth that was well needed.
Despite this, I did not warm to the characters and I can’t pinpoint why. I liked them and followed their adventures, but i did not make friends with them and grow attached like I usually do with at least one characte. I'm not sure if this was a narrative voice choice where secondary characters gave first person perspective and I would have preferred 3rd person? That could be a factor. I am glad I read this, but it's not going to be a favourite re-read, which I think is down to my personal preference.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Bullying, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Violence, and Child abuse
raquelrose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcohol, Kidnapping, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Child death, and Sexism
seadeepy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual assault
Minor: War and Rape
bwegz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism